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Italian mozzarella grilled cheese sandwich cut in half and stacked.
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5 from 1 vote

Italian Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

This easy gluten free Italian Mozzarella Grilled Cheese sandwich recipe is made with tomatoes, prosciutto, and lemon basil pesto mayo.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Gluten Free
Keyword: italian panini, italian grilled cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, gluten free grilled cheese
Servings: 4
Calories: 544kcal
Author: Christine Rooney

Ingredients

For The Lemon Basil Mayo:

For The Sandwich:

  • 8 slices gluten free sandwich bread or any sandwich bread if not GF
  • 1 package fresh mozzarella cheese or cheese of choice
  • 2 roma tomatoes or tomatoes of choice
  • 1 package prosciutto or deli meat of choice
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For The Lemon Basil Mayo:

  • To make it combine ⅓ cup mayo with ⅓ cup of your favorite jarred basil pesto along with 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice and ⅛ teaspoon each of kosher salt and pepper in a small bowl.
  • Stir until completely combined using a small whisk or fork.
  • Alternately, you can use fresh basil and garlic. For this version: Add ⅓ cup mayo, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1-2 cloves garlic, 8 or so basil leaves, and a pinch of kosher salt to a mini food processor. Pulse until completely combined.

To Make Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich:

  • Cut a ball of fresh mozzarella or cheese of choice into slices. Cut 2 roma tomatoes into slices.
  • Spread a generous amount of the pesto mayo on one (or both) pieces of sandwich bread.
  • Place 2 slices of Prosciutto on top of the basil mayo. On the other half of the sandwich place 3-4 slices of mozzarella cheese. Place 3-4 slices of tomato on top of the cheese. Place the two slices of bread together to form a sandwich.
  • Spread a generous amount of butter on one side of each sandwich.
  • Heat a skillet or griddle to medium. Place each sandwich (butter-side down) onto the warmed skillet. Butter the second half of the sandwich.
  • Cover the sandwiches and cook for 6-10 minutes on the first side. Flip, cover, and cook for an additional 6-10 minutes on the second side. Repeat with the remainder of the sandwiches.

To Make Italian Panini:

  • If making a panini heat a panini press to medium high heat.
  • Spray the panini press with a non-stick cooking spray or spread softened butter on the outsides of the bread and place the sandwich in the machine.
  • Cook the panini for 5-8 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese melted.

Notes

Feel free to swap out any of the ingredients for your favorite Italian flavors such as roasted red peppers, marinated artichokes, or olive tapenade.
Sliced turkey, ham, or deli meat of choice may be used in place of prosciutto.
Feel free to leave off the prosciutto if you'd like to keep it vegetarian.

Nutrition

Calories: 544kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 941mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1162IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 455mg | Iron: 2mg